Emmaus Asked To Refund Parking Fines Imposed Dec. 26

January 17, 1995|by SUSAN TODD, The Morning Call

David Keiser might have been talking about a modern-day Scrooge.

"I think a great injustice has been done here," Keiser grumbled last night as he urged Emmaus officials to return the money -- about $175 -- that the borough collected from parking tickets issued the morning after Christmas.

About 35 cars were parked on several streets downtown, where officials created an early morning no-parking zone years ago to ensure that municipal street sweepers could effectively clean the curbsides between 7 and 9 a.m.

Keiser pointed out that the borough was shut down on Dec. 26 in observance of the holiday. One of the only borough employees working was a part-time police officer who wrote the tickets.

Mayor Barry Barto and Council President Michael Nonnemacher told Keiser, rather adamantly, that they would not refund the money.

Instead, Nonnemacher said the council will consider changing the ordinance, amending it to put an end to enforcement of parking restrictions on legal holidays.

Councilman Otto Slozer proposed another, more immediate, approach.

"What we're failing to consider is the officer's use of discretion," Slozer said.

He suggested that officials impose an instant moratorium on enforcement of parking restrictions on legal holidays. The moratorium would remain in effect until an amendment is formally adopted.

Slozer reminded officials that Presidents Day was approaching.

The proposal was rejected by the council after the borough solicitor advised that they would essentially be telling police officers to overlook the law.

Keiser, an 83-year-old Chestnut Street resident who frequents borough council meetings, said the ordinance was unfair, officials weren't looking out for the taxpayers and the tickets were not in keeping with the spirit of Christmas.